1941

In the aftermath of the attack on Pearl Harbor, fear and confusion reigns across the United States, particularly along the Californian coast, where residents and military personnel alike are braced for a possible Japanese invasion. Amid this atmosphere of panic, a series of misunderstandings and comic blunders unfolds as the characters navigate the chaos that ensues from the perceived threat. The story focuses on an ensemble cast of characters, including a jittery Army sergeant, a fighter pilot with a penchant for reckless flying, and a zany tank crew, all of whom cross paths in the ensuing madness.

The chaos is compounded when a Japanese submarine looking for Hollywood finds itself lost off the coast of California. Its crew aims to strike a blow on the American homeland as a form of psychological warfare, further intertwining with the locals' frenzied antics. Meanwhile, civilians, emboldened by paranoia and a desire to be heroes, engage in their own misadventures, including a patriotic dance contest that spirals out of control and a young boy’s efforts to defend his home with a military surplus anti-air gun. Their actions, however hilarious and misguided, echo the larger hysteria gripping the nation, setting the stage for a series of slapstick misadventures and misunderstandings against the backdrop of wartime fear.